Rated T for Teen - Really?

[krisko]

How in the world did this scrape by with a Teen rating? There's quite a few f-bombs and other assorted profanity, plus some pretty bloody and violent executions. If this was rated M it wouldn't bother me nearly as much, but a Teen rating makes no bleeping sense. I can only assume the ESRB was either misinformed about the game's content or just asleep on the job.

[ed]

My best guess is there was a mix-up when transferring from the European rating system (the devs are French) to the US one. The game is rated PEGI 16, which is roughly equivalent to either T or a nonexistent category between T and M.

Between that and cultural differences over things like the dirty jokes, it's not too hard to see how France might give it one rating and then someone at the ESRB looked at the "PEGI 16" rating and said "well T is the closest thing to that, NEXT."

That said I would not call MOS a gory game by American gaming standards.

[Migz - DH]

The ESRB's descriptions for these two ratings:

TEEN

Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language.


MATURE

Content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.

https://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.aspx

Styx received a TEEN rating for "Violence, Blood, Sexual Themes, Language and Crude Humor".

[Merzbow]

Is it really that big of a problem? The ESRB ratings are just suggestions anyway, it's not like anyone pays attention to them. If people did, then there wouldn't be parents buying Call of Duty for their kids only to complain about how violent it is

[krisko]

I wasn't allowed to play T or M-rated games growing up. Even though I'm an adult now, it's hard not to notice the ratings when they don't seem to be appropriate for the game. That doesn't stop me from enjoying this game, but it is a curious thing nonetheless.

[Merzbow]

Originally posted by krisko:

I wasn't allowed to play T or M-rated games growing up. Even though I'm an adult now, it's hard not to notice the ratings when they don't seem to be appropriate for the game. That doesn't stop me from enjoying this game, but it is a curious thing nonetheless.

So you're an adult... and you said "makes no bleeping sense"?

[krisko]

So you're an adult... and you said "makes no bleeping sense"?

That was me just trying to be funny, the censoring was intentional. I don't curse in real life.

[Credne]

Ratings have always been inconsistent like that. Don't overthink it.

[kingfish_ak]

Most important thing about ratings is, that ratings are strictly vauluntary in the US. It is an agreement between retail stores and the game publishers no laws involved.

[necronut]

What planet are you from where children don't curse like sailors when the adults aren't looking?